Category Archives: Performers

This podcast is dedicated to performers who want to be their very best.

Episode 29 features an interview with producer Katy Lipson, lead producer at Aria Entertainment, talking about what it takes to put on a musical and the highs and lows it brings.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: I Wanna Be A Producer with Katy Lipson This episode features an interview with producer Katy Lipson, lead producer at Aria Entertainment, talking about what it takes to put on a musical and the highs and lows it brings.

Aria Entertainment is a theatrical production company headed up by Producer and Company Director Katy Lipson. For the past few years Aria has produced at least one musical revival, a new British musical, a new American musical, a play, a new cabaret show as well as a season of new musical theatre called From Page To Stage. They are dedicated to musical theatre and have a keen interest in developing and supporting new musicals.

Katy is currently working as lead producer on the UK Premiere of The Addams Family musical which launched a UK Tour from April 2017 as well as transfers of the new musical YANK! and a 50th Anniversary production of HAIR which both began life at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre where she is resident producer. Other notable productions this year include the transfer of The Toxic Avenger to London’s Arts Theatre after a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

She is also working on a festival of new International musical theatre called From Page To Stage at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new theatre The Other Palace which is sponsored by The Really Useful Group, Theatrical Rights Worldwide and RnH.

Katy Lipson is a recipient of a Stage One bursary and Start Up Award for new producers as well as being a proud member of the National Alliance Of Musical Theatre. She has received several Grant For The Arts from Arts Council England and works on and off-west end and around the UK in the not-for profit and commercial sectors. In February 2017, Katy was awarded the ‘Best Producer’ Award from the Off West End Awards.

This podcast is dedicated to performers who want to be their very best.

Episode 28 features an interview with composer Robert J Sherman, son of Robert B Sherman of the Sherman brothers, known for their vast catalogue songs from the Disney era.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: It’s A Small World with Robert J Sherman This episode features an interview with composer Robert J Sherman, son of Robert B Sherman of the Sherman brothers, known for their vast catalogue songs from the Disney era.

Robert Jason (“Robbie”) Sherman is a London-based songwriter and bookwriter. Musicals include Love Birds and Bumblescratch. A Spoonful of Sherman, a cabaret, which Robbie wrote, narrated and produced celebrates nearly a century (three generations) of the Sherman family songwriting legacy. A Spoonful of Sherman returns to the London stage August 7-20 2017 at Live at Zedel.

Born in Los Angeles in 1968 to Joyce and Robert B. Sherman, Robbie is the youngest of four siblings. Stemming from a long line of songwriters and composers, at 16, Robbie became one of the youngest songwriters ever invited to join BMI and is an alumnus of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.

At 18, he wrote songs for the musical A Christmas Held Captive (Beverly Hills Playhouse). Subsequently, Sherman has written songs and/or scripts for various film, stage and TV productions. Projects include: The Adventures of Amazon Jack (Columbia Tristar), The Magic 7 (Pulse Entertainment), The Penguin Pirate and Inkas the Ramferinkas (an animated musical film).

He oversaw and served as editor for Moose: Chapters From My Life, his father, Robert B. Sherman’s posthumously released autobiography. He also provides the voice and music for the Moose audiobook.

Robbie is the CEO/President of Music World LLC and Music World UK. He is also Trustee of the Robert B. Sherman Family Estate and Archives, which includes one half of The Sherman Brothers and Al Sherman estates.

This podcast is dedicated to performers who want to be their very best.

Episode 27 features an interview with choir singer Charlie Trinder and discusses his life in music and what has kept him singing all these years. It features an insight into life a choral singer.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: Life Inside the Choir This episode features an interview with choir singer Charlie Trinder and discusses his life in music and what has kept him singing all these years. It features an insight into life a choral singer.

Charlie Trinder, from Hertfordshire is a member of Next Stage Choir in St. Albans, and along with his wife Ros, enjoy a rewarding, challenging and busy choir life.

This podcast is dedicated to performers who want to be their very best.

Episode 26 features an interview with gospel leader Karen Gibson and discusses what makes gospel music so soulful and spiritual, and how to approach it.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: The Gospel Truth with Karen Gibson This episode features an interview with gospel leader Karen Gibson and discusses what makes gospel music so soulful and spiritual, and how to approach it.

Karen Gibson is a full time choir conductor and workshop leader with extensive experience: she has been involved with vocal groups and choirs for over 25 years, conducting gospel workshops all over the UK and Europe as well as Nigeria, Japan, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and the USA. She has been instrumental in drawing together and conducting some of the most prestigious large-scale choirs for a variety of gospel and community initiatives.

Karen regularly works in several schools across London, and works with many others on an ad hoc basis. She is also a tutor and mentor for aspiring choir conductors. A recent review of Karen’s work states: ‘Karen Gibson knows how to bring the best out of people, to allow their latent talent to come alive and, most importantly, to create a synergy that ensures the music is tight, strong, and yet also borne on the wings of a poised ensemble’

This podcast is dedicated to performers who want to be their very best.

Episode 25 features a candid discussion by Russell Scott on the good and bad of working with the right singing teacher/vocal coach, what to look for, the pitfalls, and good, the bad and the indifferent! Contains LOTS of useful tips!

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: How Good Is Your Teacher ? This episode features a candid discussion by Russell Scott on the good and bad of working with the right singing teacher/vocal coach, what to look for, the pitfalls, and good, the bad and the indifferent! Contains LOTS of useful tips!

This podcast is dedicated to performers who want to be their very best.

Episode 24 features Russell Scott’s interview with the UK’s leading Choreographer and Artistic Director, Richard Marcel.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: An Interview with Richard Marcel – Gotta Dance! This episode features Russell Scott’s interview with the UK’s leading Choreographer and Artistic Director, Richard Marcel.

Richard is the UK’s leading choreographer and Artistic Director. His expert knowledge ​of a diverse range of dance styles, coupled with his exceptional musical and production skills, are always a significant and valuable assett to each of the manyand varied productions in which he has been involved. Having worked with stars such as Madonna, Diana Ross, George Michael and Tom Jones, Richard’s unique ability to create dance for stage and screen runs parallel with his continuing successes.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: An Interview with Gay Soper – Godspell, Frankie Howard & The Flumps! This episode features Russell Scott’s interview with Singer, Performer, Talent Show Judge and TV Personality, Zoe Tyler.

Gay Soper is perhaps best known for her performance in the musical Godspell in 1971, as well as Mme. Thenardier on the Complete Symphonic Recording of Les Misérables. She also performed all the voices for The Flumps, a famous children’s TV series in Britain.

Gay trained at LAMDA ( from 1963-65, alongside Brian Cox, Martin Shaw and Maureen Lipman), and made her professional debut at 19 playing Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, a major UK tour, with the legendary Zena Dare as Mrs Higgins.

Theatre: 2015 marked Gay’s celebration of fifty years in showbiz, and playing in Funny Girl as Mrs Strakosh marked her third time playing the intimate Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark Street, SE1. Her previous roles there were a week’s guest appearance as Berthe in Pippin 2011, and in 2005 George’s Mother in Sunday in the Park With George (with Daniel Evans as George), winner of five Olivier Awards, which transferred to Wyndhams in 2006. In spring 2016 Funny Girltransferred to the Savoy Theatre playing there from April 9th till October 8th, with Gay in the role of Mrs Strakosh.

From 2013- 2015, Gay played Mrs Alexander in the 7 Olivier Award winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time for the National Theatre, showing at the Apollo and Gielgud Theatres. Previous leading roles in London include: over 1000 performances in The Canterbury Tales (Phoenix) as Alison, Molly and May, original London cast of Godspell (Roundhouse and Wyndhams 1971-3), Barbara in Billy (Drury Lane 1974), Les Miserables (as Madame Thenardier from 1988 to ’91), Side By Side By Sondheim ( 1977 Wyndhams and Garrick), Good (RSC, Aldwych), Debo in The Mitford Girls (1980, Gielgud), Phyllis in The Ratepayers’ Iolanthe (Phoenix), Yvonne Potier in Mother Courage and He Children (NT, Olivier), Anna in Lend Me a Tenor the musical (Gielgud), Lady Raeburn in Salad Days (Vaudeville), Chanteuse in Marguerite (Haymarket).

As Frauline Schnider in Cabaret, here with Barry James

Tours, Provinces and Fringe: Lady Jealous Traffick in The Busy Body, directed by Jessica Swale at Southwark Playhouse; Cherry May Waterton in Nude With Violin by Noel Coward at Manchester Royal Exchange for Marianne Elliott; Mrs Higgins in My Fair Lady on a tour of Denmark; Mrs Pearce in My Fair Lady at Kilworth House open air Theatre, Leicestershire; Betjemania by John Gould at the Shaw Theatre London and St Bartholemew’s Park Avenue New York; Tsarina Alexandra in Killing Rasputing (Bridewell), Norah in Star Quality by Noel Coward (uk tour), Anna in The Rink (Orange Tree Richmond), Ruth in Blithe Spirit (Stockholm), Sister Wendy in the Sister Wendy musical (Hackney Empire Studio), Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret the musical (Frankfurt English Theatre), The Lady’s Not For Burning by Christopher Fry (Finborough), A Daughter’s A Daughter by Agatha Christie (Theatre Royal Windsor), Mrs Steinburg and the Biker Boy with Miriam Karlin (Bush theatre), The Stripper (Hornchurch) by Richard O’Brien, and many more.

Operetta: Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, Mad Margaret in Ruddigore for Opera Della Luna; Ruth in Pirates of Penzance for Regents Park Open Air theatre and also for Carl Rosa, Prascovia in Merry Widow for Carl Rosa; and Marcellina in Figaro for MTL.

From Maurice’s Jubilee

Television: Gay played Susan Crighton-Jones opposite Jonathan Cecil in two series of Romany Jones (ITV), and opposite John Wells in the role of Veronica Sweet in two series of Rude Health for Channel 4; made several appearances in The Bill, and the sitcoms Father Dear Father, Bless This House, Never the Twain with Donald Sinden, and Barbara. Dramas include The History of Mr Polly, The Needle Match, The Agatha Christie Hour, Unforgotten. Movies: The Ups and Downs of a Handyman(opposite her then-husband, Barry Stokes), and A Christmas Carol with Kelsey Grammar in 2005.

Voices: Gay is the voice of all the Flumps for BBC Childrens TV, and has voiced many commercials, childrens stories, and poetry. Gay sings on many original cast recordings, including Canterbury Tales, Godspell (Bell records, 1971), Billy, The Mitford Girls, Which Witch London cast recording, Lend Me A Tenor the musical, Marguerite, Sunday in the Park With George, Les Miserables complete Symphonic recording. Also I Remember Mamma, Cabaret, for TER records, Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice for Bernard J Taylor, A Present from the Corporation, and many more.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: An Interview with Zoe Tyler – From Cruise Ships, TV Talent Shows to Loose Women! This episode features Russell Scott’s interview with Singer, Performer, Talent Show Judge and TV Personality, Zoe Tyler.

Zoe Tyler has accomplished a long singing career not only on the West End stage and television but more recently taking her one woman show all over the world.

Zoe’s TV singing career has enabled her to work alongside Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber to find Joseph and Maria on the BBC’s How do you solve a problem like Maria and Any dream will do.

She became one of the countries top TV vocal coaches and has contributed her vocal coaching expertise to Sky 1’s Hairspray the School Musical, Grease the School Musical, Disney Channel’s My Camp Rock, the BBC’s Children in Need, Sports Relief, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and Daybreak television programmes to name just a few.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: An Interview with Edward Seckerson – Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli and being shy! This episode features Russell Scott’s interview with Edward Seckerson, Writer, Broadcaster, Podcaster, and Musical Theatre obsessive.

Edward wrote and presented the long-running BBC Radio 3 series Stage & Screen, in which he interviewed many of the most prominent writers and stars of musical theatre. He also regularly produces podcasts of interviews with notable musical and theatrical artists and makes regular appearances on the BBC Radio 2 Arts Show, BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4, where he presented the 2007 series of the music quiz Counterpoint. On television, he has commentated at the Cardiff Singer of the Worldcompetition on a number of occasions. He has published books on Gustav Mahler and the conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, and has been one of Gramophone Magazine‘s review panel for many years.

More recently he has conducted live interviews on stage with musical theatre stars in his Singular Sensations series at Charing Cross Theatre, with celebrated actors at the St James Theatre and eminent classical musicians at the Barbican, Milton Court, and Ivy House among others. In these shows, Edward’s objective is to trace the artists’ careers, uncovering insights into their working process through a mix of conversation, recordings and live performances.

Edward also hosts a live show devoted to the life and work of Richard Rodgers entitled Rodgers Revealed, featuring Tony-nominated arranger, composer and musical director Jason Carr and Olivier Award nominee Anna Francolini. He and Jason are preparing a second show, Bernstein Revealed for 2016 focusing on the life and work of the legendary composer, conductor and educator Leonard Bernstein, with whom Edward conducted one of the last in-depth interviews.

He has interviewed everyone from Bernstein to Liza Minnelli, Paul McCartney to Pavarotti, and Julie Andrews to Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: The Theatre Critic – An Interview with Mark Shenton This episode features Russell Scott’s interview with theatre critic Mark Shenton.

Go behind the scenes of a professional theatre critic, the controversies, the backlashes, the great parties, and most of all, the harsh reality of the theatre industry.

I talk regularly about looking after your voice and am regularly asked for my tips. I recently did a podcast on this (worth a listen). I also did a couple of articles about vocal health. Here are the links to those: Vocal Health – part I Vocal Health – part II But today I wanted…

This podcast is dedicated to performers who want to be their very best.

Episode 19 features Russell Scott talking about croaky voices and how to look after the voice in the Winter months.

Each episode focuses on an element of performance to help you be your very best. It also includes vocal tips and tricks, interviews and an exclusive look behind the scenes of a Producer & Musical Director. THIS EPISODE: Avoiding The Croaks This episode features Russell Scott talking about croaky voices and how to look after the voice in the winter months.

Looking after your voice in the Winter months is vitally important. What to drink ? What to eat? What not to drink! What not to eat! Wrapping up warm , seeing your voice coach and a lot more.